the obama -- obama economy heading a stumbling block, suffering its first decline since the end of the recession. the government cutting spending and u.s. businesses trying down inventories in the fourth quarter causing the economy to contract for the first time in more than three years. u.s. gross domestic product falling a rate of a tenth of a percent, that is the worst performance since the second quarter of 2009. this is growing at a 3% clip in the third quarter of last year. the federal reserve today saying that growth has stalled, but telling the public temporary, pledging to continue with the easy money policy into the outlook for employment improved substantially, the news coming as somewhat of late surprised as economists predicted. the economy hit with super storm sandy in late october causing extensive damage along the east coast, seen as a major factor. economists see the same growth in excess of 3 percent will be needed to significantly lower unemployment and get at least some of the 23 million unemployed americans back to work. as to the markets, of three indices finishin